Chapter 18: Fort Tamberl

Rebri was taken aback; clearly, he hadn’t expected this seemingly rough sea chief to ask such a question. Glancing at Sorenborg, who remained expressionless, he thought for a moment before saying, “Haidrin, our lord is far more complex than you might imagine. As for why Sorenborg and I follow him, it’s not something that can be explained in just a few words. Indeed, neither Sorenborg nor I are his subordinates. If we must define our relationship, then it could loosely be called that of guests and friends.”
Nodding in half-understanding, Haidrin certainly knew that the lord he followed was no ordinary person. Traveling from the distant Caucasus to Bohemia, and even to the Jellyfish People’s territory—this certainly didn’t sound like the actions of a noble lord. Moreover, the lord was willing to take on such high-risk adventures personally. Aside from adventurers and explorers, few seemed willing to try such things, yet the lord was full of confidence. Wasn’t that also a kind of style?
“Then do Mr. Rebri and Mr. Sorenborg also need to help the lord achieve his goals?” After a long silence, Haidrin asked another question with double meaning.
“Haidrin, if you’re referring to the trip to the Jellyfish People’s territory, I don’t think Sorenborg and I can do much to help him. At most, we can lend him some support in boosting his momentum. The lord has his own ways of solving problems. As for what happens in the future, it depends on how the lord proceeds. If it’s about providing help in times of need, that depends on the situation. But if it’s about adding extra support, hehe, we’d be more than willing.” The magician smiled strangely, without any attempt to hide it. Smart people understand each other’s intentions, making the conversation much easier.
Haidrin also smiled. He understood what the other meant—there’s no point in supporting someone who lacks strength and no prospects for growth. In other words, Koker must have enough strength on his own to earn their support. That made sense. A person who relies solely on external help can never reach the top.

The Magic Competition finally came to an end amidst the sighs of regret from many. This edition of the competition marked a new era, as ad-hoc mixed tournaments attracted more non-magical practitioners and martial artists to compete alongside magicians, becoming a major highlight. Although not many highly skilled martial artists showed up due to promotional limitations, resulting in a one-sided matchup between magicians and warriors, even key figures in the magic guilds recognized that such mixed competitions, though perhaps not ideal in origin, could significantly enhance magicians’ ability to counter these martial artists.

Martial artists, too, could benefit greatly from these confrontations. How to break through magicians’ defensive spells and overthrow their dominant position became the ultimate goal for many, which in turn forced magic practitioners to pay more attention to these martial artists they had previously dismissed. In particular, a few strong martial artists who emerged in the competition made them realize the approaching crisis—these opponents’ ability to use powerful pure combat energy to break through magical barriers signaled the arrival of a new era.

With some reluctance, giving one last glance at Prague, Komer finally signaled that the carriage could set off. The Magic Competition had left everyone in awe, especially during the last two days, when the fierce battles and intense contests gave the members of the Night Angel Mercenaries a profound experience. Including Komer, they had witnessed such purely competitive displays for the first time—whether it was the rivalry between white magic and healing magic, or the clash between ice magic and fire-based combat energy; whether it was the confrontation between assassins and warriors, or the competition between knights and magicians. The expanded scope of the competition had transformed it from a mere showcase of magical skills into a comprehensive contest.

With the inclusion of martial arts, the competition became more brutal and bloody, but also more exciting and practical. For magic to remain dominant on the continent, it must constantly face challenges—both from within and from external forces. Only those who can withstand any challenge and test are truly powerful, a truth not everyone understands, yet precisely this is what the magic guilds strive for.

Komer and his group had already witnessed the onset of this trend of change. Everyone, including Eve, was pondering how to survive in the brutal battles. Simple defense and offense were extremely dangerous against enemies who could be either magicians or assassins. Escaping this peril in Prague didn’t mean they would be this lucky every time, nor could their companions always be by their side.

Eve and her group accepted Komer’s invitation to go to the Duchy of Rosenberg. They had no other choice. Although Prague was safe, they couldn’t stay there forever. Going to the distant south might be a better option. After realizing that the enemies could come from the Northern Alliance or the high ranks of the Church of Light, the members of the Dark Angel Mercenaries knew that staying in Prague might eventually lead to trouble—those enemies wouldn’t tolerate such informed people remaining in the world.

The road from Prague to Rosenberg was in good condition, but due to the strained relations between the two countries, Rosenberg had heavy troops stationed at the border region of Tamber Fort. When Komer and his group entered Tamber Fort, they immediately felt its solidity. The fort not only had high walls but also made extensive use of magical defensive devices both above and below the walls. These were special tools that automatically activated magical defenses in case of magical attacks, costing quite a lot. To fully enhance the fort’s defense system, large quantities of magic metal and special materials were required to manufacture these devices.

Just at the city gate, Komer spotted three such magical devices. Though he wasn’t sure of their functions, judging from the size of their outer covers and the strong earthly magical aura emanating from them, he guessed they were earth-based magical defense devices. In the event of an external magical attack, these earthly magical shields could automatically activate to protect the walls within their range, reducing the impact of magical attacks and providing effective defense. Of course, these magical defense devices were useless against physical attacks.

Seeing Komer shaking his head and sighing repeatedly, Javier, who had been marveling at the fort’s strength, couldn’t understand why his companion was acting that way. In his opinion, this fort already had the most comprehensive defense system he had ever seen. Even the forts in the countries bordering the orcs in the north didn’t have magical defense devices—though that was because orcs didn’t use magical attacks. But just in terms of the thickness of their walls, Tamber Fort could rank among the greatest forts on the continent.

“Komer, your expression is strange. Is it because this fortress is so sturdy that it fails to impress you?”
Almost all members of the Dark Angel Mercenary Group had realized that this companion’s identity was not as simple as he claimed—just an ordinary mage who had just started his career. While mages held a prestigious status on the continent, their numbers were steadily increasing. Although still relatively small in total, at least half of the magic practitioners across the continent would come to these magic competitions. Prague was filled with magic practitioners, which made people think that mages were not as mysterious and extraordinary as once imagined. Yet this companion posed endless mysteries. From his extraordinary strength shown during the attack to the respect shown to him by the Bohemian internal affairs department, from the three mysterious guests who came to meet him before departure to the separate invitation from the Magic Guild, everything indicated that his identity was unusual. But Komer never took the initiative to reveal his identity, so his companions wisely kept quiet. The elf thief, who was in an awkward position, tried several times to ask about Komer’s identity in a reverent tone, but Komer just laughed it off, making his companions even more suspicious that he might be a direct descendant of some noble family.
“Javier, what do you think this sturdy fortress tells us? Why aren’t there any fortresses in Bohemia on the other side?” Komer asked with a smile.
“What does it tell us? Of course, it shows that the Duchy of Rosenberg has excellent defenses. Even if the Bohemians use their mage corps, it won’t be easy for them to capture this fortress. With strong defending forces as well, this fortress could almost be considered an insurmountable barrier,” Javier replied, somewhat confused. “Why don’t the Bohemians have fortresses? Well, maybe they think the Duchy of Rosenberg won’t attack them first?”

“That’s it? So simple?” Komer shook his head. “The Duchy of Rosenberg putting up such strict defenses only proves they are filled with fear of the Bohemians. Perhaps they suffered heavy losses in past battles, which is why they spared no expense to build such a fortress equipped with so many magical defensive devices. But they fail to realize that defense is always passive, and the cost of such defenses is extremely high. Magical devices have a limited lifespan—after a certain period, their magic power fades, requiring replacement every three to five years at most. Maintaining such a large number of magical devices is unaffordable for any country. Who can afford to do that every few years?”
“Now look at the Bohemians. Aside from their capital, they don’t have any dedicated defensive fortresses in their territory. Although their land is flat, no other country dares to provoke them. This not only shows their extreme confidence but also forces their rulers and people to maintain a sense of crisis at all times, ensuring the country must keep a strong military force ready to face potential wars. Cultivating such a warrior mentality is extremely important for a country.”